Track-torpedo.



H. W. KELLY.

TRACK TORPEDO.

APPLICATION men 8.5.1916.

L%%@ @fi9 Patented Dec. 4:, 1917/.

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r z 1 I v I v I pairs sans an HUGH WILLIAMSON KELLY, 0F TRENKIQN, NEW JERSEY. ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF 1'0 AUBREY LQVE, 0F RIDGEWOOI), NEW JERSEY.

TRACK-TORPEDO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 4t, 131W.

Application filed April 5, 1916. Serial No. 89,075.

and the object of my invention is to provide a torpedo comprising a premolded shell or carrier having a charge of detonating material within the same, which structure may be substantially of the type set forth in my pending applications filed December 3, and 24, 1915, Serial Nos. 6 1,869, and 68,545, respectively, or of other premolded types which may omit the suction means, with rail engaging lugs.

The torpedoes forming the subject of my pending applications comprise shells or holders of rubber, or equivalent material capable of performing the particular function desired and for which rubber is peculiarly adapted; such shells or holders having suction means constituting vacuum cups whereby the torpedo as a whole may be properly secured to the head of a rail. This vacuum cup structure has proved highly efficient in use, excepting in connection with old rails, the tread surface of which may be pitted to such an extent as to preclude the possibility of the complete vacuum necessary to hold the torpedo in place. I propose, therefore, to provide a torpedo of the premolded shell or carrier type, Whether having the vacuum cup or not, with additional rail-clasping or clutching lugs of material of the same charactor as that comprising the torpedo shell and premolded therewith; such lugs being preferably stiffer, that is to say, having less body elasticity, although of substantially the same material as the shell or carrier receiving the mass of detonating material.

These and other features of my invention are more fully described hereinafter, ref erence being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1, .is a cross-sectional view of the head of a rail, showing one embodiment of my improved form of torpedo applied thereto;

Fig. 2, is a side elevation of the torpedo shown in Fig. 1, with the rail-engaging lugs in the position they assume before torpedo is applied to the rail-head;

Fig. 3, is a plan view of the torpedo shown in Fig. 1, in position on the rail-head;

Figs. 4 and 5, are sectional views, similar to Fig. 1, illustrating forms of suction cup structures such as set forth in my pending application filed December 3, 1915, Serial No. M869, before referred to, with railengaging lugs of my present invention;

Fig. 6, is a similar sectional view of a torpedo of the character set forth in my pending application filed December 24:, 1915, Serial No. 685 15, before referred to, with the rail-engaging lugs of my present invention;

Fig. 7, is a side elevation of a torpedo of a slightly modified shape; being oval or oblong and having the rail-engaging lugs of my present invention, and

Fig. 8, is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 7.

The shell or carrier of the torpedo, with or without the sucker or vacuum cup which I may employ as the means of securing the torpedo to the head of a rail is pref.- erably made of rubber, although it is obvious that any suitable material of similar characteristics may be employed, and this cup is molded substantially in the shape shown in the several figures, with the integral rail-engaging lugs whereby it may be retained in place, with or without the vacuum cup, when applied to the head of a rail. r

Under ordinary circumstances, the sucker or vacuum cup structures shown in my pending applications will be suflicient to maintain the torpedo upon the head of a rail. lVhen badly pitted rails are encountered, however, or when rails are partially covered with ice and are undergoing thawing, some difliculty is experienced in maintaining the torpedo upon the rail. It is with a view of overco1ning this objection that I propose to secure to or form with the sucker or vacuum cup carrier of the detonating material, side projecting lugs or lips which are so shaped and disposed with reference to the torpedo in its engagement with the rail head that they will firmly bite or clutch the latter, being in itially constructed with this particular purpose 1n View.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3,1 have shown a form of shell or carrier 1, premolded into form, having an upper cavity 2 receiving a charge 3 of detonating material, and laterally extending preformed lugs 4 which bite or grip the sides of the rail-head 5. The cavity 2' is preferably surrounded by a wall 6 slightly undercut, so as to insure the retention of the detonating material, and the material of the lugs will be relatively stiffer than the body of the shell, though integral therewith.

These lugs are so molded or secured to the wall of the shell or carrier that their natural tendency is to bite or clutch the railhead as shown in Fig. 1 orojecting toward each other when the torpedo is not in use, as shown in Fig. 2.

The vacuum-cup structures shown in Figs.

4 and 5, are substantially of the same character as those illustrated in my pending application filed December 8, 1915, Serial No. 64869, to which I have applied the railengaging lugs 45, which extend from the wall of the shell orcarrier in the manner shown. The cup 8 shown in Fig. 4, is somewhat larger than that shown'in Fig. 5, and

it will be understood that the lugs taper engaging lugs to insure their clutching tendencies may be employed, and it may, for instance,;be desirable to provide the inner surface of the same with elastic means under tension, the normal tendency of which will be tocontract the lugs against the opposite sides of the rail-head when the torpedo is applied thereto.

In Figs. 7 and 8, I have shown the improvements constituting the feature of my present invention as applied to a torpedo of a slightly dili'erent shape; the shell or carrier being oval or oblong and extending substantially across the rail-head. This structure will omit the vacuum cup but will be provided withthe rail-engaging lugs which are designed to bite or clutch the railhead as described with reference to the other structures 7 The detonating material may be in the form of a pressed or shaped cake of suitable thickness, weight and dimensions, preferablyhaving a convex upper surface facilitating crushing engagement by the wheel of ai -engine or train. It will be understood, of course, that the detonating material may beof any suitable shape solong as the shell or carrier with which it is; combined is of a practical type. This means, relatively speaking, that when avaeuum-cup structure is employed itsrail-contactingportion shall be substantially annular in outline or contour. It will be understood that other forms or packages of the detonating material may be employed; all of which is within the scope of my invention.

It may be desirable to cover the detonating material, and in Figs. 7 and S I have shown a covering 10 which may be of any suitable material that will properly engage the shell of the torpedo and be water-proof. The cover shown may be a piece of frictioncloth, tire tape, or the like.

The contacting faces of the rail-engaging lugs may be roughened, as illustrated in Fig. 2, if desired, to enhance their gripping tendencies, and in some instances a tacky adhesive substance may be applied to the lugs, as illustrated in Fig. 7, or in fact to the whole rail-contacting surface of the torpedo, to augment the gripping engagement afforded by the lugs.

I claim:

1. The combination with a track torpedo comprising a premolded shell of rubber-containing material and a body of detonating material carried by said shell, of rail-engaging lugs integral with said shell and projecting beyond the sides of the same.

2. The combination with a track torpedo comprising a vacuum cup structure and a body of detonating material carried by said vacuum cup structure, of rail-ei'igaging lugs integral with said vacuum cup structure and projecting beyond the sides of the same.

3. The combination with a track torpedo comprising a premolded shell structure of rubber containing material with a body of detonating material carried thereby, and flexible rail-head engaging lugs carried by the wall of said shell and provided with tension means designed to cause said lugs to extend toward each other beneath the shell structure and lie in position to clutch or grip the head of a rail.

4. The combination with a track torpedo comprising a vacuum cup structure with a body of detonating material carried thereby, and flexible rail-head engaging lugs carried by the wall of said vacuum cup structure and provided with tension means designed to cause said lugs to extend toward each other beneath the vacuum cup and lie in position to grip the head of a rail.

5. A premolded container for an explosive charge and forming with the latter a track torpedo, comprising a shell of elastic or resilient material and integral rail-engaging lugs carried by said shell.

6. A premolded container for an explosive charge and forming with the latter a track torpedo, comprising a or resilient material having a vacuum cup, and integral rail-engaging lugs carried by said shell.

7. A premolded container for an explosive charge and forming with the latter a shell of elastic 1 1,24e,eeo

track torpedo, comprising a shell of rubber containing material having a vacuum cup, and integral rail-engaging lugs carried by said shell; said lugs being arranged normally to project toward each other to clutch or grip a rail-head.

8. A premolded container for an explosive charge and forming with the latter a track torpedo, comprising a shell of elastic or resilient material cupped to receive the explosive material, integral rail-engaging lugs carried by said shell, and a cover for said explosive material.

9. A premolded container for an explosive charge and forming With the latter a track torpedo, comprising a shell of rubber containing material, integral rail-engaging lugs carried by said shell, and means carried by said lugs and designed to cause them to project toward each other to clutch or grip a rail-head.

HUGH WILLIAMSON KELLY.

Monica 01? this-patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatenta, Washington, D. 0. 

